Court J. Anderson Benjamin J. David Hamborg Bradley John N. Olsen* Bisanz Jr. Ventura Trial Team Jury agreed that ‘American Sniper’ defamed former governor f there’s one thing Jesse Ventura knows, One particular room — a barroom full of it’s that he can rely on the Minneapolis law former Navy SEALs, including several friends Ifirm of Henson & Efron. of Kyle — set the scene for the lawsuit. Olsen The firm helped him win a verdict of more made a map of the room and a time frame to than $800,000 against the World Wrestling show the jury how widely those friends’ testi- Federation in the 1990s for defrauding the for- mony varied about Kyle’s story of punching mer pro wrestler and Minnesota governor and 2014 Ventura. exploiting his name, voice and likeness. “It looked like a dartboard up there,” When Ventura decided to sue fellow for- Olsen said. “Not one of them actually saw mer Navy SEAL Chris Kyle for defamation in Jesse Ventura get punched. Not one of them Kyle’s 2012 book “American Sniper” and book- against Kyle’s estate, whose executor was heard the alleged statements.” promotion interviews, he turned again to Hen- Kyle’s widow. The gathering was in honor of a deceased son & Efron. Then there’s Ventura himself — larger SEAL. Olsen showed that Kyle fabricated an Last July, the team of David B. Olsen, than life, a celebrity, author and former politi- encounter with Ventura where Ventura sup- Court J. Anderson, John N. Bisanz Jr. and cian known for making controversial state- posedly said, “The SEALS deserve to lose a Benjamin J. Hamborg helped Ventura win ments. few.” $500,000 for defamation and more than $1.34 The trial team had to convince the jury The story doesn’t end with this jury ver- million for “unjust enrichment” in a federal that this case wasn’t about what Ventura had dict. In December, Ventura had Olsen file suit jury award. done or said. It was about the damage Kyle’s against HarperCollins, alleging that the It wasn’t easy, according to lead attorney book and interviews had done to Ventura’s “American Sniper” publisher made millions of Olsen. Kyle was considered a national hero for reputation, Olsen said. dollars based on the “false and defamatory” his military service. After Kyle was killed at a “Chris Kyle had a hero complex,” Olsen segment of Kyle’s book that led to the first firing range in 2013, the media and the public added. “He always had to be the big man in trial. Stay tuned. questioned why Ventura continued the suit the room.” —Nancy Crotti Reprinted with permission of Minnesota Lawyer ©2015.